Chapter 25 THREE: SOMETHING IN THE DARK

Derik rushed home to get something he had forgotten. Pulled out his keys to open the door, but stopped when he saw it was already open. Suspicion burned in his eyes, and he took out his gun from its holster.

Peered through the door to see if there was anyone inside. When he didn’t find anyone, he walked cautiously into the house, pressing his back against the wall, his eyes searching the room for any sign of an intrusion.

“Kevin!” he called, holding his gun up against his chest.

When he heard nothing, he slowly climbed up the stairs to Kevin’s room. Pushing the door open, he found that the room was empty—Kevin wasn’t inside.

Derik noticed that something else was missing. The dark garment and the mask belonging to Jeffrey were no longer lying on the bed where he’d left them. He blinked in fear.

Beocraft… they were here. He shuddered at the thought.

They must have busted in to take the hooded garment and the mask, along with Kevin too.

He dashed out and headed straight for his car, then drove away.

Bright florescent light pierced his eyelids, and Kevin rolled over, opening his eyes. The bright light hanging on the ceiling blinded his eyes. Tried to move his arm, but couldn’t. Then realized that both his hands and feet were strapped to the bed on which he lay. He tried to struggle, but only made his anxiety grew.

Kevin let out a muffled scream through a rag pressed down his mouth. Rolled over, looking around the room. Observed a heart meter beeping on the table beside the bed. Several surgical equipment was placed on the table. That’s when he realized he was in a hospital.

No, a rag wouldn’t be pressed down his mouth if he was really in a hospital. Kevin observed that the room was an undertone of bleach and the floor was simply grey. The walls were simply cream, not peeling or dirty, just cream.

His eyes were drawn to a man dressed in a long, white surgical gown. He was sitting in the corner, just observing him silently. The stranger wore a surgical mask over his face.

Where the hell am I? He wondered, his chest heaving. Last thing he remembered was being knocked out by a blow.

Kevin heard the door open and someone walked in. Moved his eyes to glimpse at who it was, but simply couldn’t.

The man wearing a surgical mask over his nose came into his line of sight. He held a little torch in his right hand. Holding Kevin’s eyelid to open, he beamed light into his eye to examine his pupil.

Kevin tried to ask where he was, but only grumbled meaningless words through the rag that filled his mouth. The man walked away. Kevin followed him with his eyes. Tried to call him back, but only groaned. He heard the man speaking to someone else in the room.

“He is awake, Lord Crystallow.” Kevin could not see whom he spoke to, but he sensed another presence in the room—an oddly negative one.

“How are his vitals?” came the gravelly voice which he didn’t recognise.

“They seem fine, for now.” the man answered.

“Good,” the impressed voice remarked. “Begin the process at once.”

Then Kevin heard the door open, and someone walked out of the room. Moments later, the man came into his line of sight; this time he was holding a syringe in his hand.

Holding the syringe up against the light, he examined its content. Shot a glance at Kevin, an unholy smile crossed his lips. “I’m not going to lie. This is going to hurt badly.”

Kevin felt a shiver racing down his spine. Shuddered as the needle pricked his arm. He felt a weird burning sensation coursing through his veins, then it circulated throughout his whole body.

He let out a muffled scream at the sharp, sudden pain he felt, his body trembling. His entire body felt like they were blistering against an intense flame. He couldn’t feel his arms.

Kevin heard the door open and someone walk in. Heard the footsteps approached his bed, and soon Lawrence came into his line of sight. He nodded at the man who had injected him, and the rag was removed from his mouth. Lawrence watched as his body vibrated, responding to the drug.

Kevin’s shaky voice came out strained. “What… have they done… to… me?” he stammered, glaring at Lawrence.

“That is the DXY serum taking effect in your body system. It would spread throughout your body, checking for any abnormalities and burning them out. Before long, it will eliminate the shifter cells in your DNA, cancelling out every abnormality in your body. This would make you completely human again.”

Kevin finally understood why the shifters that had been held captive in the shifter’s prison could not escape. Lawrence had stripped them of their shifter ability before locking them up.

The pains finally stopped, and Kevin regained control of body. Felt weak, like all his strength had been drained.

Lawrence returned his gaze to the man. “Prepare him to be transferred.”